Financial Sector Wrap

The ETF is trading at 0.8% of its 50-day moving average while exceeding its 200-day moving average by 109.1%. The ETF, as a proxy for the sector, tracked closer to the overall market today than over the past month. Entering today's trading, XLF was up 2.4% over the last thirty trading days. The S&P 500, in comparison, went up -0.4%.

Life Partners Holdings (LPHI) was one of the sector's big losers, as its price dropped 10.1% (-36 cents) to close at $3.22. 163,597 shares of the stock moved. The stock traded in a range of $3.12 to $3.61.

Increasing 4.5% (+$1.65) to close at $38.37, Penns Woods Bancorp (PWOD) was a major gainer in the sector. Today, 3,578 shares traded hands. The stock traded in a range of $37.09 to $38.37. Share price is up, having risen $1.26 (3.4%) from $37.11 on March 12, 2012.

CurrencyShares Japanese Yen (FXY) declined 0.3% to close at $121.56, moving below its 50-day moving average of $120.29 and 200-day moving average of $125.05.

National Western Life Insurance Company (NWLI) rose 1.8% to close at $136.20, approaching its 50-day moving average of $138.81. It has also moved closer to its 200-day moving average of $140.74. Invesco Value Municipal Income (IIM) fell 1.8% to close at $16.39, moving closer to its 50-day moving average of $16.35. Also, the stock moved closer to its 200-day moving average of $16.08.

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Verisk Analytics (VRSK) hit a new 52-week high today, reaching $47.96 to top the previous high of $47.53.